Perris Union High School District administrators did not respond Tuesday to a media inquiry regarding a proposed employee promotion that sources claim is being “slid under the radar” because it is controversial.
An agenda item for Wednesday’s PUHSD board meeting includes a list of 73 “Classified Employee Action Items” proposed to be approved in one vote. It includes changes in employee status, new hires, and extra duty assignments.
On that list is the proposed promotion of Anthony Stafford Jr., a lead janitor at Paloma Valley High School. He is scheduled to be promoted to plant manager at Heritage High School, effective Feb. 17.
Stafford’s proposed promotion to plant manager in the district became a topic of discussion last fall, after Menifee 24/7 reported that staff members at Paloma Valley criticized the promotion and the process used by a panel in making the recommendation to the district. Sources asking to remain anonymous for fear of retaliation have claimed there is nepotism, considering that Stafford’s father, Anthony Stafford Sr., is on the school board and his mother, Stephanie Stafford, is a district employee and friend of a member of the panel.
Critics also criticized what they called Stafford’s poor job performance. Many mentioned the fact that longtime custodian Walter Smouse was overlooked. The promotion was on the agenda to be approved at the Nov. 12, 2025 board meeting, but Superintendent Dr. Jose Luis Araux pulled it from the agenda, stating it was being removed “for further processing.”
Nothing else was documented the issue until line in the list of action items for Wednesday’s meeting. And on that list, Stafford is shown as being promoted to plant manager at Heritage High, not Paloma Valley.
Neither Araux nor other administrators included in an email sent by Menifee 24/7 responded to the questions about the investigative process and whether the decision to move Stafford to Heritage High was to avoid conflict with Paloma Valley staff members who oppose the promotion.
The same agenda item for Wednesday states that Smouse is retiring, as is Stephanie Stafford.
